cheap workhorse items - cost per wear

[crochetmonkey74]

I am a big lover of capsule wardrobes and love the S&B board.
I have some more expensive items (only talking expensive high street not designer) in my capsule that work hard - but I heard good advice a while ago that basically said it doesn't matter if something comes from Primark as long as you treat it as though it is an investment and it earns its keep. I have a Primark navy shirt that must be 10 years old and I wear it once a week at least. I also have a F&F simple black top that was passed on from a friend - I know she paid £12 for it. Likewise, I have had it years and wear and wash once a week and it's perfect. Anyone got similar very cheap items that have been workhorse pieces for them?
oops! and I forgot my lovely silk paisley shirt that was a pound in a charity shop- brand unknown but I think it might be Next.

£15 cord leggings from M&S which I wear two or three times a week (have two different colours) and are currently on their third year.

I love it- it makes me feel very accomplished to have found something perfect and also cheap.
I think the one trap you can fall into with capsule wardrobes is thinking you have to buy expensive classics - the perfect white shirt for example. I know that I cannot keep white looking white no matter what I do (and I have tried everything) so an expensive item could be a costly mistake for me

A bag I picked up from a charity shop that is at least 12 years old. I love it especially If I am trying to create a certain retro inspired look. Think it was only £2.99.

Tesco pjs are so good for £5 (probs more now though!), also Tesco black trainer socks.

Mostly M and S stuff: their jeggings, jeans and cord leggings last forever.

Two heavy knit Woolovers cardigans, with pockets that must be ten years old & get worn to death all through winter.
But beat this. A dark red three quarter length pure wool jacket with a tie belt that I bought from M&S when my DS was four years old ( remember as I bought it when we were in Blackpool for the day before he started school. He turns fifty this year. 😂

I have a primark black blouse that I regularly wear and it was super cheap. I also have next court shoes (charity shop)

I have a brown velvet jacket from m&s that my grandmother gave me around 1990. She bought it in 1974. She's long gone now, but I still wear her jacket! ♥️

Wow that is impressive!!! Have you ever nearly got rid of it or has it ever gone out of fashion and you have put it away for a bit or has it always been a classic?

There’s nothing really to go out of fashion about it. Very plain, stand up collar, concealed buttons, tie belt. I tend to forget it’s there sometimes but then it gets dragged out of the wardrobe again

Brilliant!!

Green hoodie with an aztec design on the back that I stole from my sister in about 1988. I think it might have been from Clock Shop but the label is long gone.

M&S green blouse with at mandarin collar - recently found pic of me wearing it in 1995

Khaki thin cotton elbow-length belted jacket from C&A in the early eighties. I wore it on heavy rotation for the best part of twenty years then dd rediscovered it and it’s now having a new lease of life.

Mens wool sweaters from m&s. Had them for years and they're still going strong.

Hi-tech hiking boots. Wear these all the time and they're the best. Years old

A drapey charcoal grey thin jumper £6 at Primark. Approx 5 years on. Washes beautifully, split cuffs look stylish and it's ace

I've got a Primark jumper , navy with the 2-in-1 shirt detail.
I;ve bought other jumpers but none as nice as this one , the knitted part doesn't stretch or warp and the shirt bit doesn't crease . I often think of recycling it but nothing as good to replace it .

And a paisley top (QVC) that is brown and black with olive,red,cream . So goes with loads of trousers and leggings . Easily 10 years old.

A smart, stylish, hip length white t shirt from Bon Marche. At least 25 years and probably pushing 30, but it still comes out a few times every summer when I want something I can throw on but is several notches up from a basic tee. Add gold necklace and earrings, the job's a good 'un, it still looks great.

A couple of plain white cotton slim fit T-shirts from Primark which must be circa 15-20 years old, cost a couple of pounds, and which are my perfect T-shirt. Wash brilliantly, haven't gone misshaped, I've worn and worn them.

And a couple of pairs of loose workout/ track suit bottoms with side stripes from M&S about 1999-2000, they are amazingly flattering , great quality material, I wear them constantly in the evenings and they've never even bobbled.
Ah the old days of serious quality at M&S!

I’ve a beautiful unlined wool cropped jacket in a loose style with 3/4 length sleeves. I bought it in TX Maxx years ago. It may have been when DD was a baby, may have been before. She’s nearly 18 and I get comments every time I wear it.

Black mini skirt from top shop. It must be 22 years old. Cost around £20 (a lot for me at the time, poor student). I must have worn it 600+ times, possibly 1000. It’s still in perfect condition, I still wear it and looks great. It was my go to skirt for around 10 years. It’s my best ever purchase.

A carboot find for £3: a Landsend (US brand) field jacket that's shearling lined and has lots of pockets. Super warm and hardwearing. Wear it mostly in cold weather.

I bought decent towels from same brand new about 15 years ago paid heavily in customs tax, but so worth the £30 towels. Still thick and soft as ever.Alongsidethis order, bought fleece bed sheets, very warm for winter. About £30 each.

Clockhouse? That was the C&A “young” fashion brand.

I have a dress that I have been wearing to work for about 12 years. It’s a wrap style, as none of my other dresses from 12 years ago would remotely fit me! It was from Debenhams, Red Herring. Viscose, lined, ditzy pattern, washes like a dream. I miss Debenhams!

A shirt from a Thai market bought on impulse while backpacking 30 years ago. It looks like silk, jewel bright colours, dries quickly and has never needed an iron. It’s one of those pieces you can chuck in a suitcase and then take out wrinkle free and wear with almost anything. The wearer might have got older but that darned shirt still looks as new as the day it went into my rucksack.

I only seem to have two types of items in my wardrobe, mistakes and then the things I wear to death. I suppose one does offset the other. I’m trying to get better at working out which something might be.